• Around 250 villas have been built in Al Samha City, a housing programme for Emiratis in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Around 250 villas have been built in Al Samha City, a housing programme for Emiratis in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Vice Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, tours Al Samha City with Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed, Deputy National Security Adviser, member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office. Courtesy: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Vice Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, tours Al Samha City with Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed, Deputy National Security Adviser, member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office. Courtesy: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • A children's play area at Al Samha City in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    A children's play area at Al Samha City in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • One of the 250 villas for Emiratis in Al Samha City. Courtesy: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    One of the 250 villas for Emiratis in Al Samha City. Courtesy: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed, Deputy National Security Adviser, member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office, tours Al Samha City on Wednesday. Seen with Dr Mugheer Al Khaili, Chairman of the Department of Community Development and Abu Dhabi Executive Council Member. Courtesy: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed, Deputy National Security Adviser, member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office, tours Al Samha City on Wednesday. Seen with Dr Mugheer Al Khaili, Chairman of the Department of Community Development and Abu Dhabi Executive Council Member. Courtesy: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, is briefed about Al Samha City. Courtesy: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, is briefed about Al Samha City. Courtesy: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, tours Al Samha City with Dr Mugheer Al Khaili, Chairman of the Department of Community Development and Abu Dhabi Executive Council Member, and Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed, Deputy National Security Adviser, member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office. Courtesy: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, tours Al Samha City with Dr Mugheer Al Khaili, Chairman of the Department of Community Development and Abu Dhabi Executive Council Member, and Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed, Deputy National Security Adviser, member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office. Courtesy: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed, Deputy National Security Adviser, member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office, tours Al Samha City. Courtesy: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed, Deputy National Security Adviser, member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office, tours Al Samha City. Courtesy: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • An aerial view of Al Samha City, an Emirati housing project in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    An aerial view of Al Samha City, an Emirati housing project in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • Al Samha City cost Dh674 million to build and was inaugurated on Wednesday. Courtesy: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Al Samha City cost Dh674 million to build and was inaugurated on Wednesday. Courtesy: Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Dh674m Emirati housing project opens in Abu Dhabi


  • English
  • Arabic

A Dh674 million ($183.5m) housing project for Emiratis was inaugurated in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Al Samha project was built for UAE citizens and is about a 40-minute drive from the emirate's city centre.

The project, which comprises 250 villas, was inaugurated by Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Vice Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, and Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed, Deputy National Security Adviser, member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office.

The pair toured the area on Wednesday and were briefed on its amenities and design features.

The residential project spans an area of 520,000 square metres and each villa, designed with features that "reflect the UAE's heritage and national identity", is 497 square metres, according to Abu Dhabi Government Media Office.

The project also has fire, safety and security systems in place.

It was built on the orders of President Sheikh Khalifa, with support from Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

The homes ainclude five bedrooms, a majlis, a dining room, two living rooms, a kitchen, a store room, a laundry room, a maid's room, a driver's room and other facilities.

“Abu Dhabi housing projects reflect the leadership’s vision and commitment to providing high-quality housing that enhances the well-being of Emiratis in line with the highest international standards,” said Sheikh Hazza.

In July, Sheikh Mohamed ordered another residential community be built for Emiratis in Baniyas.

The 3,400-home Baniyas North development will contain 57 kilometres of cycle paths, two dozen mosques, four schools and two medical clinics. It is scheduled to be completed by September 2023.

The estimated 32,500 residents, who will live in five or six-room villas, will also have access to two parks, four community farming areas and 43 community facilities, said state news agency Wam.

The Gentlemen

Director: Guy Ritchie

Stars: Colin Farrell, Hugh Grant 

Three out of five stars

'Brazen'

Director: Monika Mitchell

Starring: Alyssa Milano, Sam Page, Colleen Wheeler

Rating: 3/5

The Buckingham Murders

Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu

Director: Hansal Mehta

Rating: 4 / 5

The%20specs
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The specs

Engine: 3.0-litre flat-six twin-turbocharged

Transmission: eight-speed PDK automatic

Power: 445bhp

Torque: 530Nm

Price: Dh474,600

On Sale: Now

UAE jiu-jitsu squad

Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)

Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)

The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable
Amitav Ghosh, University of Chicago Press

Straightforward ways to reduce sugar in your family's diet
  • Ban fruit juice and sodas
  • Eat a hearty breakfast that contains fats and wholegrains, such as peanut butter on multigrain toast or full-fat plain yoghurt with whole fruit and nuts, to avoid the need for a 10am snack
  • Give young children plain yoghurt with whole fruits mashed into it
  • Reduce the number of cakes, biscuits and sweets. Reserve them for a treat
  • Don’t eat dessert every day 
  • Make your own smoothies. Always use the whole fruit to maintain the benefit of its fibre content and don’t add any sweeteners
  • Always go for natural whole foods over processed, packaged foods. Ask yourself would your grandmother have eaten it?
  • Read food labels if you really do feel the need to buy processed food
  • Eat everything in moderation
THE BIO

Age: 30

Favourite book: The Power of Habit

Favourite quote: "The world is full of good people, if you cannot find one, be one"

Favourite exercise: The snatch

Favourite colour: Blue

BIO

Favourite holiday destination: Turkey - because the government look after animals so well there.

Favourite film: I love scary movies. I have so many favourites but The Ring stands out.

Favourite book: The Lord of the Rings. I didn’t like the movies but I loved the books.

Favourite colour: Black.

Favourite music: Hard rock. I actually also perform as a rock DJ in Dubai.

In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe

Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010

Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille

Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm

Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year

Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”

Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013 

North Pole stats

Distance covered: 160km

Temperature: -40°C

Weight of equipment: 45kg

Altitude (metres above sea level): 0

Terrain: Ice rock

South Pole stats

Distance covered: 130km

Temperature: -50°C

Weight of equipment: 50kg

Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300

Terrain: Flat ice
 

Huddersfield Town permanent signings:

  • Steve Mounie (striker): signed from Montpellier for £11 million
  • Tom Ince (winger): signed from Derby County for £7.7m
  • Aaron Mooy (midfielder): signed from Manchester City for £7.7m
  • Laurent Depoitre (striker): signed from Porto for £3.4m
  • Scott Malone (defender): signed from Fulham for £3.3m
  • Zanka (defender): signed from Copenhagen for £2.3m
  • Elias Kachunga (winger): signed for Ingolstadt for £1.1m
  • Danny WIlliams (midfielder): signed from Reading on a free transfer
Race card

6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (Dirt) 1.600m

7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 2,000m

7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,600m

8.15pm: The Garhoud Sprint Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 1,200m

8.50pm: The Entisar Listed (TB) Dh 132,500 (D) 2,000m

9.25pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m

HAJJAN
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The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima


Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650

Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder

Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm

Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission

Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km

The biog

Family: wife, four children, 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren

Reads: Newspapers, historical, religious books and biographies

Education: High school in Thatta, a city now in Pakistan

Regrets: Not completing college in Karachi when universities were shut down following protests by freedom fighters for the British to quit India 

 

Happiness: Work on creative ideas, you will also need ideals to make people happy